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Maria Skleraina. Augusta, circa 1042-1045. PB Seal (29mm, 19.39 g, 12h). Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels; nimbus decorated with larger central pellet surrounded by four smaller pellets; Gospels decorated with rayed star motif / + MAPIA [...]AV[...](Ч retrograde), Crowned facing bust of Maria, wearing jeweled loros, holding scepter surmounted by trefoil and globus surmounted by trefoil. BLS I –; DOCBS 6, –; BZS –. Tan surfaces, minor marks. Good VF. Unique and unpublished.
This fascinating imperial seal belongs to an empress identified clearly on the seal as Maria. There are similarities in this seal in the dress and the Empress’ pinnacled crown to imperial seals of Theodora from the mid 11th century (see Triton XXVIII, 820 for an example) as well as the only example attributed convincingly to Zoe & Theodora’s sole reign in 1042 (CNG 587, 957). There are limited options for attribution to a Maria Augusta for the 11th century. The wife of Michael VII, Maria of Alania (1071/3-1081), is represented by a dissimilar seal that was sold in Triton XI, 1171. Maria of Antioch, Augusta from 1161-1180, the wife of emperor Manuel I, belongs to too late of a date to be a reasonable suggestion. As such, the next most likely candidate is Maria Skleraina, the mistress made second-Augusta of Emperor Constantine IX (1042-1055).
Maria Skleraina is a fascinating historical figure. Her eventual elevation to Augusta was quite unusual, especially since it occurred whilst Emperor Constantine IX was still formally married to Empress Zoe (who had selected Constantine as Emperor). The court official, philosopher, and historian, Michael Psellos, details Maria’s unusual history and elevation in his Chronographia (also known as Fourteen Byzantine Rulers), where he regularly refers to Maria Skleraina as Augusta repeatedly. He details how, following the death of his second wife, Constantine was forbidden from marrying a third time as it was against Roman law and he was, at this time, still a private citizen. Psellos writes that Constantine “substituted a less reputable condition for the marriage – a secret affaire. The lady in question was the niece of his late wife, a beautiful and normally a discreet woman” (Psellos, 180). Following Zoe’s selection of Constantine to be emperor (and her husband), Psellos continues and details that upon his elevation to emperor, Constantine “did not forget his beloved, even after his accession. With his physical eyes he beheld Zoe, but in his mind’s eye was the image of his mistress” (Ibid, 181). Consequently, and “Regardless of the consequences, regardless of Zoe’s jealousy, turning a deaf ear to all entreaty, he brushed aside every counsel that would frustrate his wishes … and at his very first meeting with the empress spoke to her of this woman. He referred to her, not as a wife, nor as a prospective mistress, but as one who had suffered much at the hands of the imperial family. Moreover, she had endured, he said, much for his sake, and he begged Zoe to recall her from exile and grant her reasonable privileges” (Ibid, 181-2). Psellos writes that Zoe, “at once gave her consent” (Ibid, 182), for, according to him, “[she] was no longer jealous” (Ibid, 182).
Ultimately, while Constantine at first tried to be discreet about his mistress and avoid an open scandal, over time he lost all sense of propriety. Consequently, Constantine has Zoe and Maria publicly sign a “treaty of friendship.” Psellos details that, “A treaty of friendship was set out in a document and an imperial pavilion built for the ceremony of ratification. In front sat Zoe, Constantine, and Sclerena, while the Senate filed in to witness this extraordinary contract, blushing and for the most part talking in undertones. Despite their embarrassment, the senators still praised the agreement as if it were a document sent down from heaven. They called it a ‘loving-cup’ and lavished on it all the other flattering epithets… The contract being signed and the oaths administered, she who had hitherto been only a lover, was now introduced to the private apartments of the palace, no longer called ‘mistress’, but ‘My Lady’ and ‘Empress,’ officially.” (Ibid, 183-4).
This is the extraordinary way that Maria Skleraina came be an official Augusta during the early days of Constantine IX’s reign. Consequently, it is not unreasonable that Maria would have had a seal or seals made for her during time. However, Maria died after a stomach ailment in 1045 after being Empress for only approximately three years from circa 1042-1045. The distraught Constantine IX had her lavishly entombed and was ultimately buried alongside her when he later died.
The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 132 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 18-19 May 2026.
CNG Feature Auction 132 – Session Four – Lot 889-1124 will be held Tuesday afternoon, 19 May 2026 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.
Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.
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